is getting off a waitlist impossible? Forum

[ypark87]

What do you guys think? If you get on a waitlist, is the probability of you getting off the waitlist virtually impossible? Or does it depend on the school?

Also, why do schools waitlist vs. just outright reject a candidate? I've been waitlisted at several schools already, and feel like it is just a long drawn-out rejection, so I couldn't figure out why they wouldn't just reject me.

[DocHawkeye]

Given the overall decline in applicants to law schools this year, it seems that your odds of getting in off a waitlist would be better this year than in other years.

[Nobody]

My understanding is that people do get in off the waitlist, but you should definitely accept that the odds are very small. Don't bank on getting in off the waitlist, just let it be a pleasant surprise if you do.

[noleknight16]

Last year, I got off most of the waitlists I was on. I was 2 points behind Richmond's 25th percentile LSAT and got pulled off. I think less people are going to law school so the chances of getting off the waitlist are probably better this cycle.

[Jante05]

What are the chances on waitlist for t1? If offered $ on T2 school should you just go with a sure thing?

[Worker and Parasite]

What are the chances on waitlist for t1? If offered $ on T2 school should you just go with a sure thing?

That's a pretty general question and it differs school by school, cycle by cycle so it's pretty much impossible to answer. I mean you can hang on to the waitlist pretty much until matriculation into your T2 school

[ypark87]

This is why I feel slightly worried--I know that I really should not count on getting off a waitlist, so I should just try to go to schools that I definitely do get accepted at--but what happens at the point where you do get off a waitlist from a school would rather attend RIGHT before the school you chose to go starts and you've already moved to the location of the other school, etc. etc.? I realize this probably won't even be a possibility for me, but I wonder what happens to people when that does happen.

[ypark87]

Also, how do you guys know less people applied this year? If so, that would be really awesome for me

[Worker and Parasite]

Look at the LSAT test taker, I think the number dropped 10%-ish? Also I wouldn't take that as necessarily good news given that the spread isn't -10% per school.

[DocHawkeye]

Most schools experienced a double digit drop in applications last year and the trend appears to be continuing.

[071816]

It's definitely possible to get in off of a waitlist. If you really want to attend, make sure they know that. Send a LOCI every so often and take a tour of the law school if you are in the area. You may even want to consider getting an additional LOR (from an alum if possible). I wouldn't recommend just sitting on your ass and hoping you get accepted, especially if the school that waitlisted you is a bit of a reach.

ETA - There are plenty of old threads about this. Here's one: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=153561

[sparty99]

I got accepted off the waitlist at three schools and two of these schools were T1 where my LSAT was probably the lowest in the class. Additionally, I was given scholarship money. I was accepted off the waitlist in August.

I HIGHLY recommend speaking to admissions (in-person) and writing multiple LOCI's. This made all the difference in my application.

[paradox]

True story - - I know someone who went to the law school where he had been waitlisted with tuition check in hand on the day the school held registration. When registration concluded there was one or more accepted students that had not shown up so the school move the waiting person off of the waitlist and he registered and became a student. Had he not shown up at the waItlisted school then they may have called someone else for the vacancy.

[ryegye87]

Believe it or not, I applied to ten schools (ranging from T5 to T25) and was waitlisted at 8. I took the necessary steps--LOCI, setting up meetings, etc. I didn't get off a single one. I think it's really hit or miss. Do everything you can to help yourself so you don't have any regrets, but at the same time, don't expect to get off any and plan accordingly.

[Bildungsroman]

Also, why do schools waitlist vs. just outright reject a candidate? I've been waitlisted at several schools already, and feel like it is just a long drawn-out rejection, so I couldn't figure out why they wouldn't just reject me.

Schools have extremely well-defined goals for their desired class size, and they have to deal with the fact that most schools only get a small fraction (like 1/4 or 1/5) of the students they admit to actually attend. Also, most schools do rolling admissions, and it's not clear until late into the cycle just how many students are applying, and it's not clear until even later what the exact yield rate (% of admitted student who attend) will be. You add all that together and it never ceases to amaze me how so many schools hit so near their targets with only a small number of waitlist admits and very rare individual screwups in terms of overadmitting. The waitlist lets schools play the game a little more conservatively and ensure that they have interested and qualified applicants waiting in the wings as later developments and later reassessments of initial assumptions free up space.

Don't give up hope if you're on a waitlist. I had to sit on a waitlist until August but I ended up at my dream school because of it.

[ypark87]

Thanks for all the advice!

I sent LOCIs to all my waitlisted schools so far. To be honest, I am pretty happy that I even got on a waitlist--I was expecting the schools I was waitlisted at to outright reject me. So I shouldn't be too upset! I was thinking of sending one every 2 months, and seeing what would happen. Thanks again for all the advice!

[Jante05]

It's definitely possible to get in off of a waitlist. If you really want to attend, make sure they know that. Send a LOCI every so often and take a tour of the law school if you are in the area. You may even want to consider getting an additional LOR (from an alum if possible). I wouldn't recommend just sitting on your ass and hoping you get accepted, especially if the school that waitlisted you is a bit of a reach.

ETA - There are plenty of old threads about this. Here's one: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=153561

thanks
In your opinion how soon should you send the LOCI? Btw maybe its a silly quest but do schools review and send decisions for ft & pt concurrently?

[071816]

It's definitely possible to get in off of a waitlist. If you really want to attend, make sure they know that. Send a LOCI every so often and take a tour of the law school if you are in the area. You may even want to consider getting an additional LOR (from an alum if possible). I wouldn't recommend just sitting on your ass and hoping you get accepted, especially if the school that waitlisted you is a bit of a reach.

ETA - There are plenty of old threads about this. Here's one: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=153561

thanks
In your opinion how soon should you send the LOCI? Btw maybe its a silly quest but do schools review and send decisions for ft & pt concurrently?

To answer your first question, I would say maybe a week or two after being waitlisted to confirm your interest and then maybe email them every month or so if there is anything new/interesting you are doing or just to reaffirm your interest. No idea about the second question. I didn't apply to any part time programs, but it likely varies depending on the school.

[Jante05]

I will def follow your advice thanks so much

[071816]

I will def follow your advice thanks so much

No prob. Also, I found this thread really useful last year.

[wamanda]

To add to this, I got off every waitlist I was on last cycle, except for Berkeley. I had a 168/3.92 and got off the waitlist for Northwestern, Duke (offered $48K), UVa, Michigan (offered $60K), and Penn. All I did was send in a LOCI or two (none of this send-one-every-couple-of-weeks business) and wrote a hold essay for NU when requested.

Definitely possible to get off the waitlist. Good luck, everybody!

[Bumi]

Also, how do you guys know less people applied this year? If so, that would be really awesome for me

Law School Applications for Fall 2012 Drop More than 15 Percent

[094320]

..

[laughsalot06]

I was accepted off of a waitlist at the school I'm currently attending. They accepted very few people and I didn't hear until the end of June.

I had one of my professors from the spring semester send a LOR. I also wrote an informal LOCI that made it clear that if I was accepted, I would attend. My advice would be to do things that show the school that you are committed, but don't call/e-mail too often--you don't want to be annoying.

My gpa was also way above the 75% (my LSAT was at the 25%) and I think that may have been a factor...but who knows. I also received a $60,000 scholarship.

Good luck, I was waitlisted at a lot of schools during my cycle and I feel your pain.